Glow plug lights up between 1800-2000rpm after timing belt change - less power on low throttle

[reator22]

Hi guys!

I'm quite fed up. I've just bought a Audi A4 B8 2.0 TDI Multitronic plate 58 with 95.000miles on it!

Timing belt (toothed belt) was ticked in the service book at 87.000 miles but I managed to find out is wasn't changed at all! So I got back to my dealer who also admitted that seems to be not done and we agreed to change it on his own garage.

So yesterday the garage has changed my timing belt included all the bits on the kit, also asked to change the water pump which was also changed. I had to pay but just a small amount!

On the way home after timing belt change and after awhile when getting out of the motorway into the city my car started behaving weird.

Basically: when accelerating in low speeds the multitronic seems to get a bit confused and lost its smooth. If I hit the pedal deeply it does response quickly and with power, but if I do it slowly the car seems to have less power than before. Seems like the turbo is not working properly but if you hit the pedal it starts working again, but is not as smooth as before.

All of this happens between 1800-2000 rpm and also the glow plug light lights up and disappear! The car drives ok, just not as smooth as before! It happens more in Drive mode than in Sport mode. Manually it does the same, between 1800-2000 if accelerating the Glow plug light always lights up at least once, for a second or so.

All of this after the timing belt being changed. Before I was impressed with multitronic been so smooth and powerful at same time.

Tuesday I'm going back to the garage to see if there is any erros codes to read. I've searched a lot and seems like it can be so many things, however could see any situation like mine!

What do you thing that as been changed on engine with timing belt and water pump replacement? Any leak? Something was disconnected and not connected back properly?

Your thoughts will help me a lot when getting back to the garage tomorrow.

Thank you.


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[vag-tech]

I'd give the garage a chance to sort this.
Unless you've got a warning light on the dash, it's not likely to be something left disconnected. More likely to be timed incorrectly (if issues have only been present since belt change).
Let us know how you get on.

 

[reator22]

Just came back from my garage!

They have checked the timing belt and said it was 1 degree displaced. Also said the tool they have to lock the engine was a bit loose, and that was the reason.

I drove the car for 30miles, no warning lights and seems to drive ok now. Still a bit of impression that its still as less power on lower rpm but should just be me now.

The automatic gear box didnt seem weird shifting as before.

Is one degree enough to cause the problem I had?

Hope it has been now well placed!

Another questions:

My car has 95.000 miles, service book says timing belt to be changed at 114.000 miles/180.000 kms but does not tell you any years time interval! I went to Audi last week and he said 124k miles or 5years, whatever comes first!

Is this true? For safety reason I decided to have it changed now.. hope I have made the right choice!

Thank you.


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[aoleks]

Doesn't sound like the timing belt if the engine sounds normal. Sounds like the turbo to me. Check intercooler hoses for cracks, leaks and incorrect fitment.

 

[reator22]

I'm about to have Vag Com, so, if there is any leaks would be able to detect any error?

 

[Zafi]

It would be 1 tooth out, not 1 degree.

Proper shoddy using locking tools that are wobbly!

 

[reator22]

I have asked him if it was one tooth or actually 1 degree as he said and he got back saying it was just one degree, that one tooth would be 4 degrees. Also said he didn't have to take the front bumper apart, he was able to sort it from the top.

Well, don't know if was true or not. The only thing I know is that the the glow plug light is not flushing anymore...

 

[Retroman]

Fitting timing belts is quite a precise job, they need to be spot on. When I have done it myself (in the past on a simpler engine) it is advisable to turn the engine several times by hand afterwards to check that the various marks on the cams and crankshaft line up precisely.

Like most manufacturers Audi give out confusing and contradictory information about the timing belt change interval. The 2010 owners handbook for my car states:- “toothed belt to be changed every 133,000 miles (all TDI models)”. However, Audi told me that in May 2014, the general recommendation changed to “whichever comes first of 5-years and handbook mileage recommendation”. I would say that generally, a change recommendation of 100,000 + miles is a little high and risky. I don’t think that a change at 95,000 is too fussy at all. I had mine changed (all belts and WP by Audi) at around 70,000 on the 5-year rule. I’ve known too many people who have left it too long and had a belt go with catastrophic consequences – had a friend who had to have a new engine fitted in his Skoda Octavia VRS!

 

[reator22]

I had the job done for 165pounds with a OEM Kit +WP. The seller as paid the rest, nearly other half. The engine now, after relook, does seem to sound exactly the same as before and does sound pretty ok. I have recorded a video before and after and is actually sounds a bit better (smooth) on the video after. Hopefully it is now sorted, fingers crossed.

It is possible to have errors saved on the car with no warning lights? Or even the opposite, having glow plug light flushing and then no errors!

The garage said there was no errors when they checked, but I am not to sure about that!

 

[vag-tech]

It is possible to have errors saved on the car with no warning lights? Or even the opposite, having glow plug light flushing and then no errors!

Errors can be logged but are only reported to the driver upon satisfying additional criteria (frequency/priority).